Uganda: Museveni's anti-gay bill is described as world's harshestAfter Uganda announced the signing of the anti-gay law, the US President Joe Biden has asked for repeal, describing it as world's harshest.
by Agence France-Presse
30-05-2023 17:18
in LGBTQIA
Uganda's anti-gay law has been described as the world's harshest.
Image: pexels.com
Uganda announced Monday 29th May 2023, that President Yoweri Museveni had signed into law draconian new measures against homosexuality described as among the world's harshest, prompting condemnation from human rights and LGBTQ groups as well as Western powers.
--
US President Joe Biden called for the immediate repeal of the measures he slammed as a tragic violation of universal human rights , and threatened to cut aid and investment in the East African country. Museveni's office said the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was among six pieces of legislation the president signed into law on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Biden urges repeal against Uganda anti-gay law
Lawmakers passed a new draft of the legislation earlier this month, vowing to resist what they said was outside interference in their efforts to protect Uganda's values from Western immorality. The amended version said that identifying as gay would not be criminalised but engaging in acts of homosexuality would be an offence punishable with life imprisonment.
--
Although Museveni had advised lawmakers to delete a provision making aggravated homosexuality a capital offence, lawmakers rejected that move, meaning that repeat offenders could be sentenced to death, though Uganda has not carried out capital punishment for several years. A rights group announced later Monday that it had filed a legal challenge with Uganda's High Court, arguing that the legislation was blatantly unconstitutional .
By criminalising what we call consensual same-sex activity among adults, it goes against key provisions of the constitution including rights on equality and non-discrimination, said Adrian Jjuuko, executive director of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum.
ALSO READ: Uganda: MPs claim adult diapers are promoting homosexuality
--
Deeply repressive law' Biden said he had asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for all aspects of US engagement with Uganda , including services providing AIDS relief and other assistance and investments. He said the administration would also consider sanctions against Uganda and the restriction of entry into the United States for people engaging in human rights abuses or corruption there.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Ugandan government had an obligation to protect all of its citizens and uphold their basic rights . Failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners, he warned in a statement. Britain, the former colonial power in Uganda which criminalised homosexuality during its rule, said it was appalled and called the law deeply discriminatory .
ALSO READ: LGBTQI Ugandans are already seeking refuge in SA
It will increase the risk of violence, discrimination and persecution, will set back the fight against HIV/AIDS, Britain's Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said. The UN Human Rights Office, whose commissioner Volker Turk in March described the bill as among the worst of its kind in the world , also condemned its passage into law.
It is a recipe for systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people & the wider population, the office said on Twitter. Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, Africa deputy director for Human Rights Watch, told AFP that it was discriminatory and is a step in the wrong direction for the protection of human rights for all people in Uganda . Amnesty International also said the signing of this deeply repressive law is a grave assault on human rights .
But the legislation has broad public support in Uganda, a majority Christian country that has pursued some of the toughest anti-gay legislation in Africa, where around 30 nations ban homosexuality. We have stood strong to defend the culture, values and aspirations of our people, parliament speaker Anita Among, one of the bill's main proponents, said in a statement.
ALSO READ: Open Letter: Netball South Africa must bar Uganda from Netball World Cup
Living in Uganda in fear Discussion of the bill in parliament was laced with homophobic slurs, and Museveni himself referred to gay people as deviants . Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said the law would bring a lot of harm to the country's already persecuted LGBTQ community. We feel so, so, so worried, he told AFP. The revised bill said, A person who is believed or alleged or suspected of being a homosexual, who has not committed a sexual act with another person of the same sex, does not commit the offence of homosexuality .
ALSO READ: Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Bill must allow for gay conversion therapy
An earlier version also required Ugandans to report suspected homosexual activity to the police or face six months imprisonment. Lawmakers agreed to amend that provision, and instead, the reporting requirement pertained only to suspected sexual offences against children and vulnerable people, with the penalty raised to five years in jail. Anyone who knowingly promotes homosexuality faces up to 20 years in jail, while organisations found guilty of encouraging same-sex activity could face a 10-year ban.
ALSO READ: Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill wants to rehabilitate' LGBTIQ people
Aid cuts for Uganda Reaction from civil groups in Uganda has been muted following years of authoritarian rule under Museveni. But the European Parliament voted in April to condemn the bill and asked EU states to pressure Museveni to not implement it, warning
Africa Stories
19/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Thursday's episode, 18 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African s...
19/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Tragic story of Jerry's life and crimesDavid van Nek was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2013 until 2015 and participated in the re...
19/04/2024
House of Zwide' Spoiler: Soka dates Mampho and OnaThe House of Zwide' May teasers reveal that Soka will date both Ona and Mampho and get caught. Will h...
19/04/2024
Beer: Seven celebrities talk about their loveBeer is one of the world's most popular beverages. We asked several celebrities about their favourite brews or ...
19/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Tlhogi cannot believe what she hears from TapsDon't miss Friday, 19 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! on e.t...
18/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Caesar almost finds Thandiswa with the bloody wedd...
18/04/2024
Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop on FRIDAYTaylor Swift will release her highly anticipated record The Tortured Poets Departme...
18/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lehasa puts his plan to eliminate Khwezi in motionDon't miss Thursday, 18 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem ...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: April's experiences of black boudoirThabo Mthembu was incarcerated in Pollsmoor Prison from 2014 to 2019. Read Thabo's story
by Tha...
18/04/2024
Prison Journalism: Can gangsterism and violence be reduced in prison?Dean Mashimbwe, a Zimbabwean migrant residing in Cape Town, was incarcerated at Pollsmoor C...
18/04/2024
Software making music: How DJs are doing itSoftware plays a big part in music production, recording, and performances. Here's what DJs are using, and how yo...
18/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele later blindsides an unwitting Faith into meeti...
18/04/2024
Debut author stuns with international bestselling thriller Anna O'Matthew Blake burst onto the book scene with his bestseller Anna O', a deliciously d...
18/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Wednesday's episode, 17 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African ...
18/04/2024
Watch: Trailers for the best Afrikaans movies ever madeDon't know what to watch? Here are some of the best Afrikaans movie trailers ever made, including Too...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Dintle reels in the line but it seems she's the only one...
17/04/2024
Trailer debate: What's the BEST South African movie?The trailer debate is on! We'd like to spark the debate What's your favourite South African mov...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Lewatle and Pax are punished for their misdeedsDon't miss Wednesday, 17 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Sa...
17/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac tells Funani he has no leads on Nkosi's hij...
17/04/2024
Ster-Kinekor to cut 236 jobs, close THESE nine cinemas in South AfricaSter-Kinekor has announced plans to lay off almost a third of its 728 employees and close ...
17/04/2024
Disney and National Geographic celebrate Earth MonthDisney's storytelling prowess merged with National Geographic's legacy of exploration to celebrate E...
17/04/2024
Prison Journalism: How have you changed as a person while in prison?Jeffrey Shockley is a writer serving a life sentence in the State Correctional Institution-F...
17/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa is determined to solve Dikeledi's su...
17/04/2024
Smoke and Mirrors: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afri...
17/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African so...
17/04/2024
Scandal!: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websi...
17/04/2024
Sibongile and The Dlaminis' gains first position on DStvRhythm World's popular telenovela Sibongile and The Dlaminis' is the most-watched TV show o...
17/04/2024
House of Zwide: Tuesday's episode, 16 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African ...
16/04/2024
The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), an agency of the Department of Sp...
16/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele feels Sandile's not a true friend anyway i...
16/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Evelyn learns about the full scale of her son's troub...
16/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Caesar and Jaxon finally receive the moment they h...
16/04/2024
Smoke and Mirrors: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South Afric...
16/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
16/04/2024
Historic: House of Zwide' is the most-watched TV show on e.tvE.tv's fashion telenovela House of Zwide' beat Scandal!' for the first time sinc...
16/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Jojo's doing his best to make amends, but Phakamile worr...
15/04/2024
Scandal!: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...
15/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Isaac asks Bra Zakes for help with any information he...
15/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Phomolo threatens Pretty in an attempt to save LehasaDon't miss Monday, 15 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem...
15/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: Dintle turns to an old friend to assist with her missionDon't miss Monday, 15 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scand...
15/04/2024
Christianity: Four people who claimed to be JesusChristianity is one of the world's dominant religions, with more than 80% of South Africans following this ...
15/04/2024
House of Zwide: Monday's episode, 15 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African w...
15/04/2024
Die Antwoord's collaborators: What they're doing nowDie Antwoord is a controversial hip-hop group founded in 2008. As a duo, they've also collaborat...
15/04/2024
Tonight on Smoke and Mirrors: Thandiswa hides her turmoil and goes through with ...
14/04/2024
Afrikaans television shows make a comebackClassic Afrikaans television shows are making a comeback, according to the streaming service AfriForumTV. Here's w...
12/04/2024
Scandal!: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]Stay up to date with the latest episodes of your favourite South African soapie on The South African websit...
12/04/2024
Skeem Saam: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [video]Missed an episode of Skeem Saam? No problem! Watch the latest episode of your favourite South African soa...
12/04/2024
House of Zwide: Friday's episode, 12 April 2024 [VIDEO]Stay up to date with the latest episode of South African soapie House of Zwide on The South African w...
12/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Sandile changes his mind about telling Faith that Zan...
Uganda: Museveni's anti-gay bill is described as world's harshestAfter Uganda announced the signing of the anti-gay law, the US President Joe Biden has asked for repeal, describing it as world's harshest.
